I am never a fan of trading draft picks, but this may actually be the right time to do so.

What if we became the third wheel on the Melo deal.
We have everything Denver is looking for:
2 first rounders
some established youth
expiring contracts
tpe

Of course we would have to be compensated REALLY well and I wouldn't consider it otherwise.

My thinking is this:
The draft is really pretty weak.
If we somehow land a top 3 pick we will get a potential franchise player, but if we fall to 5-7 we probably will be stuck with an average player at best. So it is a crapshoot.

What kind of package would you be willing to accept for the 2 picks, tpe, expiring contract, etc.

We really need a young star with as high potential as possible this year. We're probably only likely to get that in the draft. But if we could get someone who fits that description by trading the pick I'd be open to it.

I don't know if there's any way we could land such a potential megastar by getting in the Melo deal.

I'd like to get Ricky Rubio somehow. In a dream scenario we could do that without trading the pick but I personally would trade the pick for him.

Solid players but with the Raptors being as bad as they are with little legit talent on the current roster, I'd take the risk at getting a legit All-Star with the lottery pick. It may happen or it may not but I'd take the risk.

Solid players but with the Raptors being as bad as they are with little legit talent on the current roster, I'd take the risk at getting a legit All-Star with the lottery pick. It may happen or it may not but I'd take the risk.

Only way I would trade the pick is if its for a higher pick.. or for a star thats going to change your team (Melo). But we all know that no one is going to sign an extension to be the Man of a rebuilding team in Toronto.

The draft is really the best chance for the Raptors to obtain a star player at a reasonable price over several years.

If the next CBA has similar rules to the current one in terms of rookie contracts and restricted free agency, you basically have any great player you draft for at least 6 years at a relatively good price. Possibly more if you can build a great team around them with title chances in the future.

You have their rookie deal and then you almost assuredly have them for their first big contract too. Great players looking at max deals after their rookie deal do not risk the one-year qualifying offer to have a chance at unrestricted free agency. It doesn't happen. At worst they'll do something like Bosh and Lebron did where only 3 of the years are guaranteed. It's on your management to create a great team and convince them to stay.